The Plaza Premium Lounge network operates over sixty lounges under the Plaza Premium Name worldwide. The Plaza Premium Lounges typically offer a consistent lounge experience with a broad food presentation, even when visiting outside of regular meal hours. Today’s travel took me through the Plaza Premium Winnipeg lounge on my trans continental route across Canada. How would the Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg fare for a connecting traveler ?

---

This post is one chapter on a winter work trip within Canada. This trip was enhanced through Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status, Air Canada Aeroplan Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. For parts of the trip, please see this index.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us here or on social media through Facebook, Twitter “X” or Instagram for more travel tips and hacks on how to “Upgrade Your Travels”.

---

Review: Plaza Premium Lounge – Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, Canada

I arrived into Winnipeg Richardson International Airport on Air Canada Business Class Vancouver – Winnipeg, and was connecting onwards to Air Canada Business Class Winnipeg – Montreal.

I had a ninety minute connection in Winnipeg. During this time, I figured I would check out the Province of Manitoba’s only Plaza Premium Lounge, the Plaza Premium Lounge – Winnipeg.

For another lounge in Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, please see our earlier review of the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Winnipeg.

Locating the Plaza Premium Lounge:

The Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg International Airport is located within the domestic area of the gates at Winnipeg International Airport. Since international flights to overseas destinations also occasionally use the domestic gates, this lounge can be accessed by those departing on International Flights.

The Winnipeg International Airport offers a US Customs and Border Protection Services Pre-Clearance facility. Unfortunately, if you are departing on a US Transborder flight, you won’t have access to this lounge, unless you happen to be connecting from another Canadian flight and happen to access this lounge from the secure side, prior to your processing by US Customs and Border Protection and your eventual departure to the United States.

The Plaza Premium Lounge is located midway down the concourse in a central and convenient location.

Since I was arriving through a connecting flight on Air Canada Business Class Vancouver – Winnipeg, I had already cleared security and found myself on the departures concourse when I arrived into Winnipeg International Airport. I arrived into the terminal through gate 10. After wandering down the concourse, I easily found the lounge. The lounge is located just past the sole central security screening checkpoint near the centre of the airport.

The Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg is only a short walk from security, and actually happens to have a convenient location that meets most travellers needs.

Overall, I had no problems locating the lounge. It’s location is reasonably well positioned and is easy to access from every area of the airport as a result of the Winnipeg airport being such a small place.

Accessing The Plaza Premium Lounge:

There are several ways to access the Plaza Premium Lounge.

The Plaza Premium Lounge accepts reservations for entry on it’s website. The reservations are split into blocks of time ranging from two, three and six hours. As of the time of writing, the prices was as follows:

• Two Hours = $48.72 USD or $66.08 CAD
• Three Hours = $58.89 USD or $80.64 CAD
• Six Hours. = $79.36 USD or $107.52 CAD

The above pricing includes applicable taxes and fees.

The Plaza Premium Lounge network also partners with several credit cards to provide access. This includes many credit cards worldwide, which include DragonPass, LoungeKey, LoungeClub, and the Club. You do not need to make an advance reservation while using these systems.

Within North America, the lounge is also part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which offers a suite of lounges available for access with it’s premium American Express Platinum Card and American Express Centurion Cards. Access can be granted by presenting one of these cards.

The lounge has recently rejoined Priority Pass. As a result, if you have a Priority Pass membership, you can gain access to the lounge.

I gained access to the Plaza Premium Lounge as a result of my American Express Platinum Card as part of the American Express Global Lounge membership.

There was no line to gain access access today. After my digital membership card and boarding pass was validated, I was invited into the lounge.

Inside The Plaza Premium Lounge:

The Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg is a no frills “small format” lounge. The lounge offers space for one hundred travellers and is about five thousand square feet in space.

Immediately upon entering into the lounge, I found myself behind the bar walking into the primary lounge seating area. The bar offered some complimentary beverages. Consistent with other Plaza Premium Lounges, there were other beverages available for purchase.

The room contained row seating for about seventy people, along with the usual Plaza Premium Lounge Chairs that are located in its lounges throughout the world. The right hand side of the lounge had a few individual study desks for two, whereas the smaller areas of the lounge had bistro styled tables.

There were a few small cubicle styled seating areas in the back corner of the lounge. Given that these were not separated from the other areas of the lounge, I wouldn’t imagine that you’d get much work completed here with much privacy.

The main part of the lounge offered row seating. The open air space in the lounge had peek – a – boo views over the lower level baggage claim area. Like other Plaza Premium Lounges, the seating was quite high density.

The lounge seating was more than adequate for this particular lounge, and i didn’t have any issues locating a place to sit. The lounge was about at half capacity when I visited in the mid afternoon and featured substantially less people that the Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge – Winnipeg located just up the concourse.

Food and Beverage:

The Plaza Premium Lounge networks are normally pretty generous on food. On today’s visit, they had a substantial offering that is typically more than the nearby Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, between regular meal times.

Despite offering a bit more food, I find that the Plaza Premium Lounges could upscale their food presentation just a little bit. At times, the food looks a little cafeteria styled than in some other places.

During today’s past lunch visit in the early afternoon, there was a variety of salads, hot items along with sweet and savoury snacks available for consumption. There was something available for almost anyone.

While I didn’t dine or indulge myself in food, I was able to charge some smart phone batteries, prior to my next flight on Air Canada Business Class Winnipeg – Montreal.

My Thoughts on the Plaza Premium Lounge Winnipeg:

Like with the Plaza Premium Lounge – Edmonton, it’s a bit unusual to have a Plaza Premium Lounge up in Winnipeg. It’s probably among the last places that I would think of when it comes to locating a Plaza Premium Lounge.

The Plaza Premium Lounge offered a comfortable environment that was a handy food and beverage stop. I couldn’t imagine buying entry to this lounge at the current price point, but since I had access through a premium credit card, it made sense for a quick visit.

---

If you’ve recently visited the Plaza Premium Winnipeg Lounge, did you find the lounge met your needs ?

---